The Catholic Church's most recent statement on Freemasonry was released in the 1983 document Quaesitum est, written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope John Paul II. This document remains the most current standing reference on the Church's policy on Freemasonry.[4] Quaesitum est states:
"The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion...."
Quaesitum est clarified the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which did not explicitly list Masonic orders among the secret societies it condemns.[5] This contrasted with the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which explicitly declared that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication. The omission of Masonic orders from the 1983 Canon Law prompted Catholics and Masons to question whether the ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons was still active, especially after the perceived liberalization of the Church after Vatican II.
A number of Catholics became Freemasons assuming that the Church had softened its stance.[6] Quaesitum est addressed this misinterpretation of the Code of Canon Law, clarifying that:
...the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden."
These "irreconcilable principles" include a "deistic God"[7], naturalism[8] and religious indifferentism.[9]
Masonic bodies do not ban a Catholic from joining if he wishes to do so.[10][11] There has never been a Masonic prohibition against Catholics joining the fraternity, and many Freemasons are Catholics.[12]
The Grand Orient de France publicly campaigns for "laïcité" and a restriction on the Catholic Church's role in politics.[13]
***”The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion....”***
You are correct, Elsie, as you so often are.
***A number of Catholics became Freemasons assuming that the Church had softened its stance.***
Also correct. I attained the 32nd degree Scottish rite and made it halfway up the York Rite before a job move interrupted my advancement and then I was made aware of the proscription by talking to the Franciscan pastor of my new parish.
For a while, I was on a mailing list in Indiana of those who were both KofC and Master Masons. I declined at that point to further participate.